Spacer



K. W. HILDENBRAND FIGJ.

Aug. 15, 1944.

mm TM N W A m m W F M M V g .A. .W 5 2 4: m & F

Patented Aug 15, 19.44" I 2,355,801 srac'sa .Kenneth W. Hilde'nbrand, Monroe, Mich, assignor to Monroe Auto Equipment Company, Monroe, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 22, 1940, Serial No. 331,037-

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to spacers and refers more particularly to spacers of the type employed between adjacent parts to insulate the parts from contact with each other, or to control the friction between the parts.

, In the manufacture of numerous difierent assemblies, such, for example, as motor vehicles, it is oftentimes desirable to prevent contact between certain of the parts to either eliminate noise resulting from relative movement of the parts, or to control the friction between the parts. One particular instance in the manufacture of a motor vehicle where it is desirable to eliminate noise and control the friction between adjacent relatively movable parts is in the construction of the leaf springs forming a part of the suspension system. Leaf springs are usually composed of a-plurality of superimposed individual leaves installed in a manner to permit relit is desirable to space adjacent parts from contact with each other, nevertheless, it finds particular utility when employed in a leaf spring construction to eliminate the noise resulting from relative shifting movement between adjacent spring leaves and to also control the friction between the leaves. Accordingly, I have selected the latter use for the purpose of illustrating the various embodiments of this invention.

In Figure l of the drawing, I have shown a conventional type of semi-elliptical leaf spring 10 having a plurality of superposed individual leaves ll'clamped at the center thereof to the axle I2 of the vehicle. In accordance with conventional practice, the lengths of the leaves ll progressively decrease from the top leaf to the bottom leaf and the opposite ends of the top leaf are connected to the sprung weight of the vehicle according to orthodox practice. With ative sliding movement between the leaves durthis construction, it will be noted that relative noise or squeak after repeated operations.

It has been proposed to not only eliminate the noise resulting from relative shifting movement of the leaves of the spring but, in addition, to

, control the friction of the spring by interposing inserts between adjacent leaves of a spring, and .it is one of the principal features of this invention to simplify, as well as reduce the cost of installation of the inserts. It is a further advantageous feature of the present invention to provide a spacer capable of being inexpensively in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the inserts l2 are manufactured on a production basis and having provision for either attaching or positioning the same on one of two adjacently positioned parts to space the latter from each other.

With the foregoing, as well as other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction of the several embodiments of, the spacer about to be described. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a semielliptical leaf spring having spacers or inserts constructed in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through one end of the leaf spring;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the inserts;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a modified-form of construction; and a Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view. of still another embodiment of this invention.

Although the present invention may be ad-.

vantageously used in practically all cases where l8 ably formed of a'considerably less expensive mamovement between the sprung and uns-prung assemblies of the vehicle causes a shifting movement of the leaves ll of the spring relative to each other. The friction between adjacent spring leaves controls to a large extent the action of the spring and, in order to regulate this friction, inserts i2 of friction material are inserted between adjacent leaves at the free ends thereof. This friction material is preferably of a non-metallic composition and also serves to spacethe major portions of the spring leaves from metallic contact with each other so that any noise resulting from relative shifting movement of the leaves is reduced to the minimum.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated shown as comprising a disc of friction material having a projection in the form of a button l3 secured to one side and engageable in a recess It formed in the adjacent face of one of the leaves H of the spring. In the present instance, each spring leaf I I is upset adjacent the free ends thereof to provide the recesses M in the top surface for receiving the buttons or projections 13 on the inserts l2'..

It follows from the above that the buttons l3 position .the inserts relative to the leaves of the spring and, in the present instance, the buttons are preferably formed of a relatlvely inexpensive material and are secured to the friction disc by staples l5. Inasmuch as the buttons l3 merely serve to position the friction discs relative to the leaves of the spring and do not assist materially in controlling the friction, thesame are preferterial. One type of material which has proved particularly satisfactory consists in a composition of compressed paper containing an asphalt base which has the desirable characteristic of conforming to the shape or the recess it, Also a composition material of the character set forth is considerably less expensive than the friction material employed in the disc and, as a result, materiall reduces the cost of manufacture. When considering the large number of spacers required in the leaf springs, the cost of manufacture is a decidedly important item and any reduction in this cost without sacrificing performance is a highly advantageous contribution.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 differs from the one previously described in that the button i4 comprises the head of the metal staple 56 having the prongs it forced through the friction disc I2 and crimped over the latter. With this construction, the spring leaves may be provided with openings it therethrough for receiving the heads iii of the staples to position the friction discs relative to the spring leaves. This construction is also inexpensive to produce and may be readily assembled.

The modification shown in Figure 5 differs from both of the above embodiments in that the friction disc i2 is provided with a snap fastener l9 engageable within an opening formed in the leaf spring to secure the friction disc in place. In the present instance, the snap fastener i9 is secured to the friction disc by suitable prongs 2| projecting from the base 22 of the fastener and adapted to be crimped over the top surface of the disc in the manner clearly shown in'Flgure 5. The snap fastener, selected for the punpose of illustration, is of relatively simple inex-' pensive construction having a plurality of spring fingers 24 adapted to extend through the opening 20 and terminating in enlarged portions 25 frictionally' engageable with the underside of the leaf spring to prevent accidental removal of the friction disc.

The above construction is particularly advantageous in that it appreciably simplifies and expedites assembly of the leaf spring. With this construction, the friction discs may be attached to each spring leaf before the latter are assembled to provide the construction shown in Figure 1, and there is no possibility of'movement of the friction discs during this assembly. Attention may be called to the fact that the construction shown in Figure 5 is especially applicable for installation at other parts of the vehicle where it is desired to space adjacent parts from each other, and application of this embodiment, as well as the foregoing modifications, should not be considered limited to the particular illustration shown in the drawing.

What I claim as my invention is:

A leaf spring assembly having a pair of leaves supported in superposed relation, at least one of the leaves having a depression in one'face thereoi, a spacerof nonmetallic friction material interposed between the leaves in frictional contact with adjacent surfaces of the leaves, and a button of asphalt composition secured to one side of the spacer and projecting into said depression to hold the spacer against movement relative to the spring leaf aforesaid.

KENNETH W. II-IILDENBRAND. 

